Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Khawatir sedikit itu wajar saat ujian pertama. - Being a little worried is reasonable during the first exam.

It behaves like a stative adjective meaning “worried,” but Indonesian adjectives can function as verbs. So khawatir sedikit reads as “to be a little worried/being a little worried.”

Why is itu used? Is it like “is”?

Itu literally means “that,” but in patterns like X itu Y it marks the topic and links it to a comment, roughly like “X is Y.” Here: Khawatir sedikit (itu) wajar ≈ “Being a little worried is normal.”

Can I use adalah instead of itu?

With adjectives, Indonesians usually don’t use adalah. Khawatir sedikit adalah wajar sounds stiff. If you want adalah, add a noun: Khawatir sedikit adalah hal yang wajar or use merupakan hal yang wajar.

Which is more natural: khawatir sedikit or sedikit khawatir?

Both are understood, but sedikit khawatir is more idiomatic. You’ll hear: Sedikit khawatir itu wajar… more often than Khawatir sedikit itu wajar….

What exactly does wajar mean?

It means “normal,” “reasonable,” or “to be expected.” Near-synonyms: lumrah, normal, sewajarnya. In other contexts it can also mean “fair/just” (e.g., harga yang wajar = a fair price).

Can I drop itu?

Yes: (Sedikit) khawatir wajar saat ujian pertama is fine, especially in casual speech. Itu just makes the topic–comment structure smoother and a bit more emphatic.

What does saat mean here, and how is it different from ketika/pada/waktu?

saat = “at/during (the time of),” works with a noun: saat ujian pertama.
pada = “at/on,” a bit more formal with time nouns: pada ujian pertama.
waktu can be a noun (“time”) or a conjunction (“when” with a clause): waktu saya ujian.
ketika is a conjunction used before a clause: ketika saya ujian; not ideal before a bare noun.

How do I say “the first time taking an exam”?

Use pertama kali: saat pertama kali (mengikuti/menjalani) ujian or saat ujian pertama kali. These emphasize it’s your first-ever experience.

How do I say “your first exam”?

Add possession: saat ujian pertamamu (informal), saat ujian pertama kamu (neutral), saat ujian pertama Anda (polite/formal). For others: ujian pertama dia/mereka.

Can I move the time phrase to the front?

Yes: Saat ujian pertama, (sedikit) khawatir itu wajar. A comma after the fronted time phrase is common but optional.

Any more natural or colloquial ways to say the whole sentence?

Wajar kalau kamu sedikit khawatir saat ujian pertama.
Normal saja merasa sedikit khawatir saat ujian pertama.
Colloquial: Sedikit khawatir itu wajar kok, pas ujian pertama.

What are related forms of khawatir?

kekhawatiran = “worry/anxiety” (noun).
mengkhawatirkan = “to worry” (cause concern) / “worrying, alarming.”
dikhawatirkan = “it is feared/there are concerns that…”

How do I make it negative (“not normal”)?

Use tidak with adjectives: Khawatir sedikit itu tidak wajar saat ujian pertama. Don’t use bukan here, because wajar is an adjective.

Are there synonyms for khawatir closer to “nervous”?

Yes: cemas (anxious), waswas (uneasy), gelisah (restless), deg-degan (informal: nervous, heart pounding), grogi (stage-fright/shy-nervous). Pick based on nuance.

How do you pronounce kh in khawatir?

Standardly it’s a voiceless fricative (like German “Bach”). Many people pronounce it like k in everyday speech. Spelling remains kh: khawatir, not kawatir.